Worms Save The Planet: From Vermiculture to the Culture of Worms, Opening Reception FREE January 19, 2007

Free

January 19, 2007–March 4, 2007
Come discover the wonderful world of worms!

Now is your chance to learn how worms can save the planet!
That's right, the wiggly, dirt-dwellers will reduce green house
gas emissions, limit the amount of harmful chemicals used in
the world, lower the impact of trash on the environment and
even save you money!

Worms Save The Planet is a comprehensive introduction to the process of vermacomposting and beyond.

Echo Curio invites you to experience, learn and interact
with these saviors of the planet.

A wealth of exhibit related programming will soon be listed
including:
Vermicomposting in your home workshops
Worms and students, teaching children about vermicomposting
Worms and the Environment lecture
Curator led tours of the exhibition
Screenings of Wormy films
Wormy musical events
and lots of wormy creations for your purchasing pleasure


Curator Concept Statement by Will Allgood
The United States produces a disproportionate amount of green house gasses. The new emissions standards recently passed by the California State Legislature will do a great service to those of us who live in California and the planet as a whole. However, the entire planet can benefit even more by adopting a more progressive practice of waste management.

Recent articles have reported on a luxurious hotel in South Africa managing its organic and newspaper waste using composting to make fertilizer for their flowerbeds and other landscaping needs. This simple change in waste management is a viable option to reducing costs and harmful green house gas emissions.

The waste management system they use is vermiculture, more commonly referred to as worm composting. Admittedly, this concept often evokes an emotional response that is less than favorable. However, the practice is well-established, relatively simple, very efficient, highly educational, odor-free and very effective.

Worm composting breaks down more waste and does so more quickly than traditional composting. Also, the resulting materials are exceptional well suited for healthy gardening and landscaping.

Worm composting can help the environment in many ways.

1) The amount of land needed for landfills will be reduced. Landfills turn healthy, usable land into undesirable land for many, many years. Each new landfill will invariably be farther from the source of most of the garbage. Therefore, the monetary and environmental costs associated with waste management, including added infrastructure and the consumption of fuel, oil, tires etc., will continually increase. Worm composting can reduce these costs.

2) Worm composting breaks down organic waste with no emission of green house gasses. As organic waste decomposes in traditional landfills, the green house gas methane is naturally emitted. Methane is much more harmful to the environment than the more commonly discussed green house gas, CO2 because of its increased capacity to hold heat. The more worm composting, the less green house gas emissions.

3) The natural by-products of worm composting are non-toxic alternatives to chemical fertilizers used in gardening and landscaping. Having these natural fertilizers available reduces the need for and the costs associated with chemical, often toxic fertilizers. Also, the natural by-products of worm composting are easier to use and are shown at be at least as effective as the best selling fertilizers on the market today.

Worm composting is easy, effective and hassle-free for individuals and families. With a progressive mindset this practice is being expanded to state, public and private institutions. The benefits associated with this organic waste management system will prove viable and will benefit the citizens of California, the United States and the entire planet.

Learn more about worm composting and how to get involved by visiting Echo Curio in Echo Park. There you can see a working worm composting system, find resources, exhibits and artwork to motivate you and your community to start doing something meaningful that can help save the planet.

And Finally, in conjunction with this exhibition, ECHO CURIO is releasing it's first CDR compilation with a host of International Artists and Musicians creating sound pieces related to worms.

ECHO CURIO is here to blur separate realities.

Official Website: http://echocurio.com/Exhibit-WormsSaveThePlanet.html